Jar cap tool



M. Dl GRAPPA Dec. 5, 1939.

JAR CAP TOOL Filed Nov. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t I n ventor /%'M eZmzyeZaizi'm wa Aiforneys M. D] GRAPPA Dec. 5, 1939.

JAR CAP TOOL Filed Nov. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A iiorngys Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in implements for reforming and cleaning jar caps especially of the Mason jar type. The principal object of the present invention is to provide means whereby jar caps can be reformed at their packing engaging edges in a quick and simple manner without any strain or effort on the part of the operator.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an implement of the character stated which will in use serve to hold a jar cap firmly while being treated Y Still another important object of the invention is to provide a cap appliance of the character stated whereby the-interior of a jar cap can be cleaned of any scum or other foreign matter in a rapid and efficient manner.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader ofthe following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational View of the apparatus with handles of the reformer in section.

, F ure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure-3 is a face elevational view of the chuck. Figure 4 is a back side elevational View of the chuck. c

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the reformer showing a portion of a cap in section.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end elevational View showing the manner in which the reformer and cleaner are mounted.

Figure '7 isa fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-'! of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Figure l,'that numeral 5 represents a substantially rectangular base which can be supplemented with the provision of suitable clamp means whereby the base can be secured to a table or the like.

A bearing bracket 6 preferably of sheet metal is suitably secured to the base 5 adjacent one end thereof and formed at its upper end to provide a sleeve bearing! in which the shaft 8 is journaled in the longitudinal center of the base. One end of the shaft 8, constituting the rear end, is provided with a crank handle 9 whereby the shaft 8 and the chuck generally referred to by numeral l may be rotated.

The chuck l0 includes an elongated substantially rectangular plate II suitably secured at its center, as by welding, (not shown) to the front end of the shaft 8 diametrically thereof. A pair of substantially semi-circular clamping wings l2 are pivo-tally mounted at one end thereof, as at l3, on One end of the plate H in edge to edge relation for swinging movement toward and from each other into and from clamping relation, respectively. A pair of semi-circular clamping flanges I!) are provided on the wings l2, respectively, for cooperation to grip therebetween a jar cap 29 under movement of said wings toward clamping relation. The flanges l9 are arranged to form, in the limit of clamping movement of the Wings 12, a diametrically split circle partially surrounding the cap 2c in spaced 1 relation to the usual edge flange A thereof so that said flange is free.

The wings 52 are movable into and from clamping relation through the medium of a plate-like slide 14 spanning the plate ll at one side of the shaft 8 and guided by plate H for movement lengthwise thereof by side flanges l4 engaging the side edges of said plate H. A pair of ears l extend from opposite flanges M, respectively, flat against the wings l2. A pair of angularly related cam slots it in saidears l5 and screws ll passing through said slots into the wings I2, provide for movement of said wings into and from clamping relation under movement of said slide in opposite directions, respectively. A hand grip it is provided on one end of the slide M for manipulation of the same.

The reformer is generally referred to by numeral 2|, while the cleaner is generally referred to by numeral 22.

The reformer and cleaner each comprise a pivoted arm of flat material, 23, in the case of the former and 29 in the case of the latter, pivotally mounted on the base 5 for swinging movement upwardly and downwardly toward and from the front face of the chuck Ill, respectively, and hence toward and from a cap positioned on said chuck. The pivotal mounting for-said arms 23 and 29 comprises a pair of lugs 27, 28 for each arm upstanding from the base 5 and spaced in line laterally thereof, a pivot pin 26 extending through said lugs and hooked lower ends 23a and 30 on said arms 23 and 29, respectively, interposed between the lugs 21' and 28 and through which said pin 26 extends.

The upperend of the reformer arm 23 has rotatably mounted thereon a flat forming roller 36 adapted under upward swinging'of said arms to be peripherally engaged with the inner face of the usual rim flange A of the jar cap 20. The

31 is rotatably mounted on said lever arm, as at 39, for movement into and from peripheral clamping relation to the roller 36 under movement of the lever arm 34 in opposite directions, whereby said roller 31 may be moved into peripheral engagement with the outer face of said flange A to clamp the latter between the same and the roller 36, as shown in Figure 5. The periphery of the roller 3'5 is inwardly beveled-and convex so that said roller together with roller 33 will roll the flange A outwardly to prevent said flange from cutting the usual sealing ring (not [Y shown) such as is associated with jar caps of the Mason jar type. The lever arm 3i is provided with a slot 40 therein concentric to the pivot 33 and through which the axis member 4! of roller 36 extends, this arrangement providing against lateral play of lever arm 3! and roller 31.

I As will be clear, the reformer arm 23, and the lever arm 36, together with the rollers 33 and 3'! are movable as a unit about the pivot 26 toward the face of the flange A to position the roller 33 against the latter, whereas, the lever arm 3! is swingable on the reformer arm 23 about an axis at a right angle to the pin 25 to position. the roller 3'! edgewise against flange A under upward movement of handle 35, said rollers being moved into straddling relation to the flange A by such upward swinging of said reformer arm. A handle 25 is provided on reformer arm 23 for manipulating the same and the handle 35 of lever arm 34 is positioned under the handle 25 for concurrent gripping of both handlesby one hand of the operator.

The cleaner arm 29 is provided with a handle 43 for manipulating thesame and intermediate its ends with a bracket plate 44 to which is suitably secured the back 45 of a wire bristle brush 4'! with the bristles extending laterally of the arm 29, the arrangement being such that under upward swinging of said arm 29 the bristles of said brush may be positioned in the cap 23 against theinner periphery thereof to clean the same.

Referring now to the operation, in reforming a cap 23, said cap is inserted, closed end foremost, in the chuck l0 between the clamping flanges l9 and the latter moved into clamping, relation thereto by manipulation of the slide i in the proper direction to cause the slots 56 and screws I! to cam the wings I2 on the pivots l3 toward each other. The reformer arm 23 is next swung upwardly by means of handle 25 to locate roller 36 against the inside of flange A and lever 35 then pulled upwardly to move roller 31 against the outer side of flange A thereby clamping said flange between said rollers. With the handles 35, 25 firmly gripped by the hand of the operator to maintain the rollers 36, 31 in clamping engagement with flange A, the chuck l0 and cap 20 are rotated by operation of the crank 9, the rollers 36, 3! under, such operation reforming the flange A circumferentially and transversely as will be clear. The'manner in which the cap 20 is removed will be understood without explanation.

To clean, the cap 20, the'cleaner arm 29 is swung upwardly to locate the bristles of brush 46 in the cap and held in the proper position for this purpose. The cap 20 is now rotated with the bristles 43 in wiping engagement with the inner periphery thereof.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerouschanges in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as .claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. In a device for reforming the edge flange of a jar cap, a base, an upstanding bearing bracket on said base, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket and having a crank on one end thereof for rotating the same, a chuck fasten the other end of said shaft for rotation therewith and operative to clamp the cap thereto concentrically of said shaft, and flange reforming means comprising a pair of reforming rollers mounted on said base for movement bodily into and from straddling relation to said flange and one mov a pair of reforming rollers'movabl'e' bodily by such movement of said arm into and from straddling relation to said flange, one of said rollers being mounted on said arm'formovementindependently thereof into and rrom 'cia'm'ping emfibn to the other roller during rotationof the cap, and i manipulative means for moving said independently movable roller at will.

MICHELANGELO DI GBAPPA, 

